1 Microsoft VBScript compilation error 800A0408

When you run a newly authored VBScript code that you copied from an existing/working script, you may possibly receive the “Microsoft VBScript compilation error 800A0408: Invalid character” as shown below.

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Windows Script Host
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Line:    1
Char:    1
Error:    Invalid character
Code:    800A0408
Source:     Microsoft VBScript compilation error
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This error usually indicates that there is an invalid character in the script that VBScript compiler can’t understand. Thus it fails with the error.

Very common cause for this error would the File Encoding used by the IDE/Editor software that you used to author/copy this script.

To Fix: You need to ensure that your VBScript is encoded in ANSI format for the VBScript compiler to successfully execute your script.